Town council cuts precept after last year's error but county council eyes rise

Council tax paid to Halstead Town Council will be reduced after an administrative error last year but it isn’t all good news, with the amount paid to Essex County Council set to rise.

Halstead Town Council had intended to maintain its 2012/13 total of £136,292 when it set its precept for 2013/14 last year, but a blunder was made on the information sent to Braintree Council, adding 14.5 per cent on to the figure.

By the time the mistake was spotted, it was too late to be rectified.

The error meant the tax for a band D home rose from £33.51 to £38.36 – an increase of £5.56 or 10.6p per week.

Councillors this month voted to set the precept for 2014/15 fractionally lower than the 2012/13 total, at £136,051.

Meanwhile, council tax paid to Essex County Council is set to rise by 1.49 per cent after its budget plans were revealed last Tuesday.

The increase equates to a £16.19 rise for a band D home or 31p per week, meaning a band D home would now have to pay £1,102.94.

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